A very intelligent canine. I've gone to court more than Michelle Bachmann, Harriet Miers, and most US Law School professors ever have. I am ghost written by my human companion. I actually live in the Second largest English speaking city at the time of the War for American Independence. These are my opinions and I don't care if you read this. I don't really want to hear from you--unless you agree with me or can offer intelligent and constructive comments. And I refuse to sell out (no ads here).

31 July 2009

Born to run things

I had to admit that there were a few possible titles to this post, such as "Sure I am an elitist", "Define Sheeple", "critical thinking on the internet", and so forth. But if you have actually read this blog, you have figured out that I am from the "ruling class". You know, the elite, the people who run your life.

I find it interesting to see how people are described as "sheeple", especially in the context of the "Second Amendment debate". Even more so when I look at the wikipedia entry:

Sheeple is a term of disparagement, in which people are likened to sheep.

It is often used to denote persons who voluntarily acquiesce to a perceived authority, or suggestion without sufficient research to understand fully the scope of the ramifications involved in that decision, and thus undermine their own human individuality or in other cases give up certain rights. The implication of sheeple is that as a collective, people believe whatever they are told, especially if told so by a perceived authority figure believed to be trustworthy, without processing it or doing adequate research to be sure that it is an accurate representation of the real world around them.

Sorry, I don't fit the picture of "sheeple" in any way. Maybe "sheeple herder", but not "sheeple".

Nevermind that I am a believer in the "collective right" and will always be as it is the historically accurate interpretation. The "individual right" camp has done a wonderful job of twisting the truth, yet I am amazed at who is willing to believe it. Yes, there are lawyers who actually believe that the Second Amendment includes self-defence: despite the fact that they would rip holes if it were the opposite opinion claiming that there was a right that didn't exist (e.g. abortion).

No, this is not because I was told this was the correct interpretation, but because I actually looked at the source material, which I frequently cite for you to examine as well. It is the only interpretation that makes sense as well.

Unless you truly believe criminals have the right to firearms ownership.

As the bumper sticker says: "the media are as liberal as the large, conservative companies that own them."

And there is a reason that "conservatives" dislike National Public Radio and want to cut funding: they would have no control over a publicly funded organisation. But fortunately, nearly 30 years of "conservative" governments in the US have left public broadcasting with almost no funding.

What is left? You find that the media, and even the internet, are filled with right wing posts and a predominance of right wing information. You have to sift to find anything useful.

You are told that Heller "finds" an individual right, but guess what? That right seems more and more nebulous if you scrutinise it.

For example:

Although we do not undertake anexhaustive historical analysis today of the full scope of theSecond Amendment, nothing in our opinion should betaken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on thepossession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, orlaws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive placessuch as schools and government buildings, or laws imposingconditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. Heller p. 54

This has a footnote, 26, which states:

We identify these presumptively lawful regulatory measures onlyas examples; our list does not purport to be exhaustive.

Don't forget footnote 23 as well!

23 With respect to Cruikshank’s continuing validity on incorporation,a question not presented by this case, we note that Cruikshank alsosaid that the First Amendment did not apply against the States and didnot engage in the sort of Fourteenth Amendment inquiry required byour later cases. Our later decisions in Presser v. Illinois, 116 U. S. 252,265 (1886) and Miller v. Texas, 153 U. S. 535, 538 (1894), reaffirmedthat the Second Amendment applies only to the Federal Government.

What does that leave you with? Nothing?

But it is an "individual" right!

As Justice Stvens said:

The question presented by this case is not whether theSecond Amendment protects a “collective right” or an“individual right.” Surely it protects a right that can beenforced by individuals. But a conclusion that the SecondAmendment protects an individual right does not tell usanything about the scope of that right.

To Congress is given the power of "arming, organizing, and disciplining the militia, and governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States." To the state legislatures is given the power of "appointing the officers, and training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress." I observed before, that, if the power be concurrent as to arming them, it is concurrent in other respects. If the states have the right of arming them, while concurrently, Congress has power of appointing the officers, and training the militia. If Congress have that power, it is absurd. To admit this mutual concurrence of powers will carry you into endless absurdity— that Congress has nothing exclusive on the one hand, nor the states on the other. The rational explanation is, that Congress shall have exclusive power of arming them, and so on, and that the state governments shall have exclusive power of appointing the officers, &c. Let me put it in another light.

May we not discipline and arm them, as well as Congress, if the power be concurrent? so that our militia shall have two sets of arms, double sets of regimentals, and so forth and thus, at a very great cost, we shall be doubly armed. The great object is, that every man be armed. But can the people afford to pay for double sets of arms? Every one who is able may have a gun. But we have learned, by experience, that necessary as it is to have arms, and though our Assembly has, by a succession of laws for many years, endeavored to have the militia completely armed, it is still far from being the case. When this power is given up to Congress without limitation or bounds, how will your militia be armed?

Funny, but Patrick Henry doesn't mention self defence in that piece I just quoted. But, you can stop being sheeple and actually do some cite and fact checking for yourself. I mean, did you catch that was a quote famous quote from Patrick Henry?

So, I find it amazing that people think that the Bilderbergers work in secret. See how many people have missed that they have been played by the DC v. Heller nonsense.

The Bilderbergers could post their agenda on the front page of the New York Times and most people would miss it.